Academy honors science faculty

Eleven members of Yale’s faculty have been elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering and will be formally inducted into the Academy next month. CASE is nonprofit organization that recognizes scientists and engineers living in Connecticut who have achieved distinction for their outstanding contributions to applied sciences and technology.

“The organization elected 23 new members who represent leaders in both academia and industry,” president of the CASE council and Yale professor Myron Genel said. “I am very delighted with this year’s new Academy members.”

Provost Peter Salovey, Dean of Engineering Kyle Vanderlick and Vice President of West Campus Planning and Program Development Michael Donoghue were among the 11 Yale faculty and staff elected to the academy.

Other professors to named to the Academy are Peter Jones, John Krystal, Lynne Regan, Chris Argyris, William Sessa, Robert Sherwin, Abraham Silberschatz, Joann Sweasy and William Tamborlane.

Modeled after the National Academy of Sciences, the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering was chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1976 to provide scientists and engineers with the ability to study and identify scientific and technological issues that concern citizens of Connecticut.

“It’s service-oriented,” Assistant Director for Programs at CASE Ann Bertini said. “It allows them to support the academy and its mission — advising state governments and industries on the application of science and engineering to the economic and social welfare.”

With the election of 23 members, the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering is quickly approaching the membership limit that is mandated by law, which poses issues with its election process. In 1976, the original level of membership was set to 200 and is now limited to 250. Still, Bertini said CASE is pressing to change this law altogether to allow the academy — rather than the general assembly — to determine the size of its membership.

Bill 898, the proposed legislation, has passed in the general assembly and still faces further review. With this new statue in place, the organization would be able to set its own limits on membership, which will allow them to consider more candidates for elections.

“It would give us some flexibility because we’ve seen an increase in candidates over the years,” Bertini said. “We’re not trying to open it up to a million members. We just want enough seats for the outstanding individuals that will be elected in the future.”

Members will formally be inducted into the ceremony on May 20 at the academy’s annual meeting and dinner at the New England Air Museum.